Sci-Fi elements sacrificed for action

Rating: 6/10 (23 April 2006)

Un-original yet still a perfect Sci-Fi story with great cast and the potential of a 7 - 7.5 rating. It gets a 6 because of typical Michael Bay.
The downfall of this film is that Sci-fi and plot depth is sacrificed for action. Don't get me wrong I love action films BUT this film was trying to be more than this and had so much potential to do so. This film is good, yet I also found it irritating because of the missed potential. What it seemed to be aiming for was missed because of these short cuts. You can't sacrifice sci-fi elements like this. Before i list some i feel the big question i must ask first, due to it playing the key part to the "plot", is why do the clones have a consciousness just to have their organs harvested? - details would of been nice.
1) Ewan's character sneaks out of his room when everyone is asleep, and escapes into the restricted area to release a bug and follow where it goes: This was rather easy to do. Are there no security staff monitoring sensors or cameras? Why not put a scene in there showing a security staff member not paying attention to the security cameras?.
2) The car chase scene where iron train wheels are released from an "automated truck!?!?" causing devastation on the road: This scene is there solely for action (and ripped from Michael bays shocker Bad Boys 2). This truck that is carrying the wheels you just assume is automated. Does the technology driving it not allow for accidents on the road? If there was an accident, as happens here, would a system not tell the truck to stop, instead of allowing it to continue losing its payload causing devastation?. I'm not saying get rid of this scene, its great action - simply add detail. Oh....and just get rid of the flying bikes bit - amazing how isolated 3 year old clone Lincoln can operate the bike so well.
3) The scene with Ewan's character (Lincoln) and Scarlett's (Jordan) on the buildings logo. Badly shot and I don't see them surviving it, do you? The construction guy who pulled them out of the wreckage  why did he have to have them AWFUL comedy lines. This sort of dialogue was fine once thank you from the receptionist in a previous scene.
4) Why did the original Lincoln let the clone Lincoln drive the car? Absurd! Why did he even leave the house with his clone? Why not hold him hostage at the house with his gun until the authorities arrived?. Was an excuse to put a flash looking car in the film.
5) Why did Djimon Hounsou's character shoot one of the Lincolns based on him having the bracelet? Why not take them both back to the bunker to Sean beans character? He is a grounded, professional character with feelings and respect for life(as we see at the end). Shooting the one Lincoln is out of character.
6) The agency discovers that the real Lincoln is the dead body and not that of the clone, because the bracelet is on the wrong arm. Hmmm very thin  would there be no other tests done before confirming this.
7) WOW - Product placement is plentiful in this film and gets seriously irritating.
Scarlett wasn't really used. Ewan McGregor, Sean Bean and Djimon Hounsou were great and it's always nice to see Steve Buscemi. Not original BUT still a great story and plot with some impressive visuals (and bad), great sci-fi detail (and awful that sticks out like a sore thumb) and a good score, especially with the end scene. Mr Bay just please stop blowing everything up and putting pointless scenes in your films.